Building confidence in passive fire protection with Siderise
Iain Hoey
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Peter Schmitt, US Senior Technical Services Engineer at Siderise, outlines system design, contractor needs and compliance considerations for project teams navigating varied codes
Passive fire protection underpins building safety, but varying state requirements, differing inspection practices and hard-to-verify installations leave contractors and specifiers facing complex demands.
Siderise supports this work with dry-fit firestopping and fireblocking systems.
IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey sat down with US Senior Technical Services Engineer Peter Schmitt to discuss how Siderise approaches compliance, testing and contractor support across the US market.
How would you describe Siderise’s product range and its role within wider building protection systems?
Siderise’s engineered product range supports all building exterior applications, including curtain walling and rainscreen with firestopping and fireblocking, which are both forms of passive fire protection.
The industry has developed some well-established solutions for passive fire containment over the years.
However, many of them require application of a spray or sealant to provide a smoke seal, which consumes time and money.
Siderise’s unique one-part dry-fit systems such as the CW-FS Firestop and Perimeter Barrier eliminate this additional step, simplifying the installation considerably.
Our products are unique in the fact that they feature a vertical fibre stone wool Lamella insulation core, which in turn offers unique attributes in terms of functional performance, durability and the ability to withstand building and façade movement.
Compartmentalisation is the name of the game in passive fire protection.
The goal of systems such as ours is not to extinguish a fire, but rather to restrict it to the point of origin and delay its spread to adjacent spaces.
This offers occupants, first responders, etc. sufficient time to evacuate the building.
Passive fire protection not only helps save lives but also limits damage to the structure, which can save the building owner a substantial amount of money on repairs.
What key challenges do differing state codes and varied enforcement practices create for maintaining compliance?
Code requirements and regulations can vary from one state to another, but passive fire protection requirements are very much tied to the International Building Code (IBC) so there is a significant amount of overlap.
However, one of the areas where we see the greatest variance right now is with code requirements related to fireblocking.
The IBC outlines very generic requirements for fireblocking.
In my opinion, these requirements are lagging behind other areas of the world such as the UK, where fireblocking regulations and testing standards have evolved.
That being said, I am encouraged by the relatively recent introduction of the 2022 New York City Building Code, which sought to more clearly define fireblocking requirements in NYC.
We are hopeful that other major cities will follow suit and that such practices will become more commonplace.
The time to implement such changes is not after a major incident occurs, but before.
How significant is third party testing and certification when demonstrating reliable performance of passive systems?
When dealing with life safety, the importance of testing and certification cannot be overstated.
Without comparable third-party testing and certification in accordance with the applicable testing standards, there is no way to know whether any given configuration of construction materials will provide the necessary level of fire performance.
Incorporation of certified passive fire protection systems into the building design and compliance with relevant building codes offers peace of mind to building owners and occupants alike.
Siderise always supports products with third party testing, where required.
What common installation or inspection issues most affect system performance on projects you have supported?
With regard to curtain wall joints, the most common issue I’ve seen relates to improper installation of the safing material between the slab edge and curtain wall in two-part pack and spray systems.
Insufficient compression of this material can result in premature failure during a fire or inability to handle the anticipated movement throughout the lifetime of the building.
Application of spray over the top of the safing material can also hide imperfections that could contribute to premature failure, making it very difficult for inspectors to adequately assess installation quality without destructive testing.
It also requires drying time, which makes the installation process longer.
Siderise’s CW-FS dry-fit curtain wall system, on the other hand, features a foil-facing on both sides which visibly crinkles when compressed.
This, coupled with the absence of spray on the top side, allows inspectors to easily verify that the material was continuously installed with no gaps and proper compression.
How does Siderise’s technical support extend from design and specification through to final verification?
Siderise’s technical support doesn’t end once we’ve been added to a customer’s specification, or after they’ve placed an order.
We want our customers to feel comfortable reaching out to us, at any stage of the project, no matter the question or concern.
We’re here to offer them assurance throughout the entire process, from start to finish and thereafter.
What training or guidance do contractors most often need to ensure correct installation and standards compliance?
A contractor should not only be well trained on material installation but should also be familiarised with the certified systems they are installing in accordance with.
One of the biggest challenges with ensuring proper installation is that knowledge is not always properly transferred after personnel changes.
Siderise would be happy to provide periodic virtual trainings and/or send a representative to conduct on site trainings including benchmark mock up constructions for installers to keep them up to speed.
Our site services offerings also include installation inspections to verify that they fall within the parameters of our systems.
We also offer CPD training backed up with extensive product data, which offers great support to specifiers.
